New Year Resolution {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle wedding photographer}

Its a new year come and its time to publish new resolution. Its became a good tradition to look back and realise what I need to work on, where to go :)

Results of 2015:

1. This year was amazing. I did plenty of lifestyle newborn-baby-family sessions, couples-engagement photo shoots and of course weddings! :) I met amazing people and made more friends! :)

2. I think I finally lean toward to my style, found my voice in photography.

3. My work been published in few established publishers and it feels really good when what you are doing is acknowledged. Also at last day of 2015 year I received a great news: two of my pictures been chosen by Bridal Guide Magazine as best pictures of 2015. Im so thrilled to be an Award Winning Wedding Photographer!

4. I learnt a lot (finished few great workshops - wedding photography, post-processing, using flash and much more) for provide the best experience to my clients.

5. I continued been in amazing community ClickinMoms with great support and advice. 

6. Finished first 365 Project - documenting my kids everyday moments and family storytelling. I think I will keep going on for capture so treasured moments!

My personal life achievements:

1. Moving from Auckland to Hamilton NZ, with more relaxable lifestyle and ability to be closer to Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions (which good for my photography).

2. My little ones turned 3 and 2 years old. Its amazing how they became more independent, talking, having own opinion, toilet training (ha-ha, that was stressful and then happened in one moment, mother will understand my excitement!) and how active they are :)

3. Joined Russian community and  made a lot of new friends with keeping old ones :)

4. Getting new equipment and lenses (wait, its again about my photography, but its really personal to me, my little treasures, ha-ha :)

Goals for New Year:

1. Practice-Practice and more practice, continue 365 Project (maybe in slightly relaxable way :). Learn a lot!

2. Develop my business, service and packaging as well ;) Make more clients/friends happy!

3. Getting higher level of art, develop photography style. I want my pictures speak to you!

4. Be happy and keep my family happy. Im so glad to have amazing support from my husband (who look after kids when Im shooting and doing my business, and help me a lot, even with proof reading my blog-posts!). Thank you so much, I have no idea what I can do without you!

Look forward to this 2016 year, really exciting. Its few special dates coming: Im turning 35! Im not a shy girl to tell my true age :) on 8 January (can't believe it), my husband turns 40 (big date!), its 5 years from our first meeting in Europe (yes, we fast with marriage and babies :) and kids turning 4 and 3 years - not long to go to school! Hopefully there will be more exciting events!

Look forward to see you all again! Yay!

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Best of my 365 Project 2015 {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

Its just amazing how many positive and enjoyable moments happened during this year, which I document in my 365 Project.

It also let me practice, grow and progress in my photography and capture family storytelling, everyday moments with kids. These all such a treasured lifestyle moments.

I love to look back through the galleries. Hope you enjoy it too!

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My 365 Project. December {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

Last month of this year gone and its last month in my 365 Project - December.

It was a month full of positive lifestyle moments and emotions. I been doing photo shoots in Auckland and Hamilton, weddings and lifestyle sessions and also capture my family and kids everyday moments.

Enjoy this gallery!

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Happy New Year! Best lifestyle-wedding photographs {Auckland-Hamilton documentary couples-family photographer}

Hello everyone!

Hope you having a great holidays!

I just want to wish you a Happy New Year and share with you our best lifestyle moments - couples-engagement , wedding-elopement , and family-kids-baby-newborn sessions what I been capture in 2014 year.

It was an amazing year with a lot of positive emotions. Thank you for share with me your special moments!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Sweet baby girl baptism ceremony {Hamilton family-event photographer} Cathedral of the blessed Virgin Mary

What a special family moments I been captured last weekend - sweet baby girl Victoria baptism ceremony in Hamilton Cathedral of the blessed Virgin Mary. 

Victoria is a brave little girl and kept really well through the ceremony. It was such special lifestyle moments for all her family (mama Marina, papa Rowen, big brother Daniel, god parents and all relatives who joined this day our gorgeous girl.

Enjoy this baptism ceremony gallery!

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Merry Christmas and Happy holidays (Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle wedding photographer}

My dear friends | clients! 

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

Hope you will have exciting events, trips and have some rest and relax!

I am still very busy with shooting weddings, lifestyle sessions in Auckland and Hamilton, especially at summer time! Will post more sneak peeks and blog posts during the holidays if I have a chance :). 

It's exciting time for everyone, hope you enjoy it!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas tree {Auckland-Hamilton wedding-engagement-family-kids photographer}

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Fun couples photo shoot {Auckland wedding-engagement photographer}

What a positive, full of fun and laughing, photo shoot I had last weekend in Auckland. Kylie & Warwick just amazing couple.

Guys met each other 2 months ago and feel strong connection. It was first their pictures together.

I love to shoot these special for couple moments with relaxable atmosphere, fun and joy. It's a treasure to see their raw emotions and feelings!

Enjoy my new couples-engagement photo gallery!

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Footbridge Lodge Wedding {Auckland-Bombay couples photographer} Tammie & Ross

What a great cosy wedding I captured last weekend in Footbridge Lodge {Bombay, Auckland}. Tammie & Ross such a stunning couple! Their photographs turned just amazing!

Ross is a navy guy and Tammie is paramedic girl and they found each other. Celebrating their special day with family and close friends and sharing their feelings. Lily going to have a great step-dad!

Morning start for me in guys place getting ready in Pukekohe with relaxed and warm atmosphere. Ross and his 3 groomsmen  been joking, having fun, eat some lunch and getting ready for special event!

Footbridge lodge is a beautiful place in Bombay Hills, Auckland with beautiful picturesque views and old style architecture with wooden chapel (which has great big window at the back). What an amazing place to be married. 

We had some fun at location shoot near the pond with pier and boat, then follow up reception with emotional moments, speeches and of course dance time!

What a beautiful couple and cosy atmosphere!

Happy future together!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Thank you Sharni for take me on board!

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Bridal Portraiture | Photography Tips {Auckland-Hamilton wedding photographer}

Bridal Portraiture is one of my favourite genre, and one of the most exciting moments on the couples wedding day. Maybe because Im myself a women and want to capture all this beauty and happiness on bride's special day. 

Im always full in love with my brides when I see how they getting ready during the wedding day, putting make-up on, dress and vail, walking down the aisle, being with the groom. Its such special moments!

Then comes all hectic and busy time but I always love to make special time for them to relax, take a big breath, have intimate moments with groom along at location photo shoot. Then comes time to take just a few shots with bride, show her character, personality and beauty.

If you ask me how to make the most beautiful bridal portraits on your wedding day I can tell you: its not a secret - just need ask bride to look at love of her life, at her groom | husband will see in her eyes all the beauty, passion and love. Its special moments!

Bridal portraits can be romantic, editorial, but also fun and crazy :) It all depends from personality of the bride and photographer of course. I like to go with the flow and feel my couples what they love to do, what pictures can be special for them. Sometimes you can be surprised when even fun loving brides found after the wedding session romantic photographs in their final galleries and full in love with them. You never knows ;) 

So lets create these beautiful moments, have some breath in between of this hectic day and capture beauty and happiness!

Here is my recent bridal portraits with my stunning brides, thank you so much for sharing these special moments with me. Love you all!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Documenting family everyday moments {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle photographer}

I love to do a family storytelling and document everyday lifestyle moments, day by day. 365 Photography Project coming to the end, but I think I will keep going and capturing all these treasured moments in my family life: my daughter's first pony tales (her hair grows really slowly for the first two years :), my son meeting Santa just before Christmas (what great memories!), love all these emotions, my little ones love jumping on the bed every day...

Hope you enjoy this gallery!

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Farm romantic engagement photo shoot {Auckland-Hamilton couples-wedding photographer} Shane and Shelly

What a great engagement photo shoot at the farm in Waitoki, North Auckland I had last weekend. Shelly and Shane just amazing couple, I'm really excited about their upcoming 2017 wedding!

What a great story of relationship they have: met each other at first work, now 6 years together! and had so many romantic moments.

We had a lot of fun and positive moments during their couples photo shoot. I just love to capture all these laughing moments and positive emotions and watch all their love and connection! Walking on the farm, using the opportunity to take few shots near the tractor and do other fun things around the farm.

Hope these guys have a happy future together!

Enjoy this gallery and video!


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Hamilton Zoo family time {Waikato kids lifestyle photographer}

What a fun family time we had at Hamilton Zoo at Sunday morning. I just love these lifestyle moments, which are great to photograph to have memories about this treasured time.

Its so great to see all kids raw emotions of happiness when they met monkeys, giraffes or even ducks! :) They just a little bit small for big walking through the bush, up and down, so we carried them a lot of times :)

I had a chance to take a fast pictures in between candid moments :)

Enjoy this gallery!

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Elegant Formosa Golf Resort Wedding {Auckland couples-engagement photographer}

What an elegant wedding I captured last weekend at Formosa Golf Resort in South Auckland. This couple looks just stunning and photographs turned out just amazing. Meet...

Dominique & Owen

Venue: Formosa Golf Resort | Celebrant: Neena Maxwell

Makeup: Makeup by MeagsHair: Camilleri HairDesign

Decor: Lautofa Tulagalua | Bouquets: Flowers by Lisa | DJ: Andy Wilson

What a great place guys choose for their wedding - beautiful golf course in picturesque sea side location with views of Rangitoto island.

Getting ready moments started at Formosa Villas with beautiful set up, light, views, Dominique and her best friends - three bridesmaids met me while doing their makeup and hair. The atmosphere was full of fun and positive emotions. Girls been in villa 10 while boys in villa 12 had their own fun. I been heading over to get details shot with wedding rings and some creative shots with guys  :) 

Weather been rainy all morning so ceremony moved inside the lounge (planned to be an outdoor), but lucky rain eventually stopped and we had opportunity to get all main family shots done, guests had cocktail hour and we with bridal party, Dominique and Owen moved to travel around golf course on 4 seater golf cart (I been riding at the back, holding tight :) 

What a great location shoot with intimate session and some fun shots. Could be the best memories ever for stunning couple and their bridal party. Need to mentioned we had siblings from both sides in the party, what great traditions!

Reception been beautifully set up with white colours decor and light material around. What an airy feeling its created! Music been on and guests impatiently been waiting main couple to come in. What a great party just happened, amazing atmosphere!

Dominique & Owen, happy future together!

Enjoy this video and gallery!



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Mairangi Bay kids-family fun {Auckland-Hamilton documentary photographer}

Last evening we spent with family and kids on beautiful Mairangi beach in Auckland. We made a special trip from Hamilton to say good buy to uncle Paul and aunty Sinead who fly back to UK this evening, they spend amazing pre-wedding holidays in New Zealand, where all family been happy to see them.

What a fun time on the swing, in the waves, running on the sand, having hot fish and chips in Mairangi Bay park | playground and some lifestyle moments.

We will miss you!

Enjoy this gallery!

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Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Its really important to choose a right place to your big wedding day. Each location should have a special meaning to the you and made makes celebration moments unforgettable.

It's a lot of different options in Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty areas, indoors and outdoors (could be handy to do a rain check and have a back up plan ;)

Traditional wedding ceremonies are held in a church / registry office / hotel. I always enjoy to hear stories that couple choose the church where their parents been married. Its such treasured connection between generations, what great family traditions.

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Outdoor locations had a lot of variety, especially in New Zealand: beach, domain, winery, gardens,  farm, park, bush, golf course, resort etc. So many different options! Summer is almost all the year around with high plus temperature so its really tempting to organise picturesque ceremony/reception in the beautiful nature side. I just love to capture these natural light beautiful moments.

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

Other option what I often see with small family weddings - ceremony and reception at parents house with BBQ in the garden area. Thats so sweet memories as well.

So what type of wedding location close to you, where you want to celebrate your engagement and have fun with close to you people / family? It's all up to you! I'm happy to capture for you all these special moments with relax, natural style. I love to show raw emotions and connection!

Wedding Location {Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty NZ couples | engagement photographer}

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Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

Intimate couples moments are one of the most important and special at wedding day (and engagement session as well). Each couple is so different and have own special wedding schedule and ideas in place, but still very important to have at least half an hour during this hectic time to have quiet romantic moments and get stunning photographs.

These pictures will be one of the most treasured ones and these moments along away from the guest will give you some ability to rest and relax.

Thats why I always recommend to include an intimate session | location shoot in the schedule and do my best to have enjoyable and relaxable time together.

There could be different options to incorporate these moments in your wedding day: first thing in morning after getting ready (its often goes with first look), between ceremony and reception, during the reception (have some moments away from the guests and get stunning light at sunset).

I also love to do bridal session (pre-wedding photo shoot) or post-wedding photo shoot, which allows to choose different location (be really far from the wedding location and have different atmosphere). No on elicited in time, so no hurry! Everyone feel relaxed :) Also its gives the ability for brides trash the dress (lay on the sand, move in the water, what can be big fun!).

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

For example, one of my recent weddings with Daria & Dmitry been in Auckland city (Russian Orthodox church and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron), so there was no option for incorporate outdoor photo shoot on the nature, so we organised beach post-wedding session 2 weeks after their wedding. Pictures turned just amazing!

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

Sometimes location just perfect for natural shots. My last weekend wedding been at South Auckland Formosa Golf Resort. It was so great to have a ride around golf course located next to the seaside with amazing views.

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

It is so important to do an intimate session in this stunning picturesque views!

Intimate photography - couples moments {Auckland-Hamilton wedding | engagement photographer}

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Casting call | Auckland-Hamilton couples photographer

Casting Call
I am looking for:

- Two crazy in-love couples who are easy going and would like to have fun lifestyle session. If you a blond with long hair + a brunette with short/medium hair + a redhead with long curly hair definitely note that in your message!

No modelling experience necessary. Sessions will take place in Auckland-Hamilton. Send me a message on Facebook page or contact me if you are interested.

One little girl and a big umbrella | Personal moments | 365 Project {Auckland | Hamilton Lifestyle photographer}

It was a rainy day yesterday and we stayed at home for most part of the day. My little one been waiting for daddy come back from work. She fast run, when she seen him coming. Big hug, laughing and next thing took her attention - a big blue-white umbrella, what she get in her little hands.

I can't help myself and captured these treasured moments with one little girl and a big umbrella for my 365 project, family storytelling :)

Enjoy these lifestyle moments!

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Featured Photo #TTF magazine {Auckland-Hamilton lifestyle wedding photographer}

Im so proud to show you my new feature with #TTF magazine. My photo from stunning post-wedding session on Kariotahi beach, Auckland with beautiful Daria & Dmitry (you can check their wedding gallery and video) chosen as cover photo and for Photographer Inshot Awards. Also #TTF magazine published an article:

"4 details of this Costal New Zealand wedding what we love", hope you enjoy it!

Its a big pleasure to see your style and photographs noticeable and appreciated.
Thank you!

Contact me with any questions!

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